Variable-speed-transmission gearing



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 2 1923.

I I avwemboz E? New Get. 2 1923. 1,469,333

D. E. Ross VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION GEAHING Filed April 3, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 atented Get. 2, 1923.

metres means Innvrn shoes, or LAFAYETTE, rnnraivaj VARIABLE- earin-raensazissron ena'anve,

Application filed April 3,

1 '0 (ZZZ whom it may concern;

Be it kn wn that I, DAVID E. Ross, a citi Zen of the United States, residing at La Fayette, in. the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented certainnew and useful improvements in Variable-Speedlransmission Gearing ,1 and I hereby declare that the followingis a full, clearfand exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel 1 provement in gearing for transmitting moti .1 or power from a driving member to a driven member or members; and its objects are to provide an always positively geared driving connection between the driving and the driven members; and to enable the speeil of the driven member, relative to the driving member to be shifted toobtain diiierent speeds;

and'to enable the driven member to be reversed. The invention enables any d irod reduction in speed to be made in transmission between'the driving and driven members; and thereby increasetl'ie torque'transmitted in proportion'to the reduction in the speed. i

A further Ob60t is to enable the driven member to be driven either forward or re-- versely by simply varying the speed of two intermediate transmit-ting elements.

I will explain the in'ventionwith reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate practical embodiments thereof-to enable others skilled in the art to adapt'a'nd use the same; and the essentials of the invention and novel teatures of construction and novel combinations of parts for all of which protection is desired are set forth in the various claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 represents longitudinal sectional"- view through one form of transmission gearing embodying the invention, the section to be taken-on line 11, Fig/2.1 "'5 V Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view "of such gearing on line 22,' Fig. 1. j Fig. 3 is in parts; diagrammatic topplan view and in part a longitudinal 1 sectional view of avariation'ot the form of trans mission gearing,

Fig. is a; conventional view of aselective form of gearing. I,

In the drawings, A driving member, which may be the shaft of the engine, or driventrom anysuitto, consequently the gearg sitely to 'thergear2.

1 designates the primary movement 1111 the direction'dot travel or: the

1920. Serial No. 370,907.

able prime mover. This shaft carriesa bevel pinion 1, which meshes with a bevel gear 2, that is rotatably journaled in or on any suitable support, and in the example shown, loosely surrounds a shaft, oriaxle,

member 9. f 1

Parallel with and beside gearl is a shaft 1 carrying a gear 1, whichmesheswith a bevel gear 3, which may be journaled in or on any su1table support in axial ahnement with gear 2, and is shown as loosely mounted on a shatt or axle member 9 in axial alinement with shaft 9, these'shatts abutting intermediate the gears 2 and 3.

Both gears 2 and 3 face inathe' same direction and shaft 1 is geared to shaft 1 in such 1113111181 that it rotates oppositely thererotat'es oppo- On the inner opposedr facesofgears 2 and 3 are rigidly 'attached .or formed similar but. opposed bevel gears 2 twith which mesh a series of planetary gears 4, which arev j ournaled on. stub" shafts 14* mounted in a sultable driven member 5, which may be mounted in any suitable manner between the gears 2 and As shown the/driven member 5 is journaled upon the hubsot smaller opposed bevel gears 6, 6, which are smaller indiameter than the gearsfl 3 .,but'in axial alinement therewith, the gear 6 being keyed to the shaft 9 and the gear 6? being keyed to the shaft 9 These gears '6, 6 mesh with intermediate planetary gears 7, which are shown as rotatably journaled on the shafts 1 or" the planetary gears lybut the gears Q and 7 are not fastened together and can 1 0- tate independently The gears 6, 6 and 7 constitute a compensating gear of the usual type between the shattslQ, 9

ln-the example shown may be alike in sizeyso'may the gears 2 and .8 somay theFgearsQ 3 In such case it the shafts 1 were rotated at the same speed then the gearsQ, 3 would rota'teat the. same speed in opposite-directions and the planetary gearsl simp'lyjrotate-on their axes without; any orbital movementybut by varying" the relative speeds of shafts 1', 1 the relative speed of movement of the gears 2 3 might beehanged so that one will rotate faster :than' 'theiother, andrin thatcase the planetary: gears lxwill take up orbital taster moving gear 2 or The relative the pinions/l 1 7 speed of the driving shaft 1 and driven member (of. shaft sections 9,9) can; also be varied by changing the ratiosot the opposed gears 2 and 3; or 2 and 3?; or both r so that one gear 2 or 3 will rotate fasterthan the other, or the teeth of one of said gears will move faster than the teeth of the being merely conventionally illustrated in the drawing; In Fig. 1., I have indicated convent-ionallv three sets of inter-meshing from the ,driving part to the "driven part through and by positive.-engageinent fof' v 7 p J r Y and asecondary gears (8, 8H8 8; S, 8 between the shafts V 1 and 1" The gears 8 8 are shown as loose on the shaft 1 and the gears" 8, SP, '8 as fast on shaft 1, and respectively meshing with gears 8 8, 8 Any one or" the gears 8, 8 8 may be locked to the shaft 1 by any suitable clutch means; a movable clutch 0r spline 'member 8 being'conventionally shown -1n the drawmgs.

The gear 8 is slightly smaller than the gear 8; the'gears 8 8 arethe same size; and the gear S -is slightly larger than the gcarfi lit gears 8, 8 are disengaged 'trom shaft 1* and gear 8 lockedthereto, then shaft l willrotate more slowly th anshatt- 1, consequently gear 2"" will rota e taster than' 'gear 3, and t e planetary gears l will takeup orbital movement with the gear 2' and turn the driven member 5iandshafts 9', 9 in the same'direction as, but at much slower speed than, the gear 2.

If gears 8 8 are disengaged from shaft 1 and gear 8l0cked thereto; then (assuming the various opposed gears'are otthe same size) the gears 52, 3 will rotate in op; posite direct-ionsat the same speed and the planetary gears l will simply spin on their axes and thedriven member '5 and shafts 9, 9*.will stand still. r "If gears 8, 8 are: disengaged from shaft 1 and the gear 8 locked thereto, then shattl will be driven more rapidly than shaft 1,

and consequently the planetary will take-:up orbital movementin the directionof the rotation of the gear 8 andit-hedriven member 5' and shafts 9, .9? will rotate in the reverse direction. v

Bf course by increasing the numbergof' change gears between the shafts 1 andzl fol-ward or reverse, or'xboth, can betransmember. In each instance however it will be observed that the power is transmitted gears rger number of varionsfsp'eeds either thevsaidrdriving gears; the gear.

fixed ratio: Othel' tllllll 1:1; a; driifen'membQIiQODDQCtQdWVI t-h said shafts; and a plane" In the form illustrated in Fig. 3, the shaft 1 carries a worm 11 which meshes with a worm gear 12 which carries thesgear 2". V

The remaining parts in Fig. 3 are like the remaining parts in Fig. 1, and arecorrespondingly lettered and the parts in Fig.3 correspondin operation with the parts in Fig. 1, as above described. w l

The work gear drive, Fig. 3, is particularly usefulwhere great reduction in speed and great augmentation of torque is desired, as for example in motor trucks for heavy duty.

It will be seen that in the constructions shown each planetary transmission gear 4' :and its related compensating planetary gear to the shaft 1, and a smaller gear S 'at-' tached to said shaft intermediate the gears 8 and 83; The gears 8 and 8? maybe connected to acommon hub and adjusted by a gear-shifting lever 8 of any suitable construction, so that either gear 8 or 8 may be meshed with its relatedgear 8 or8 or both may be disengaged. V r p A gear 8 adapted to mesh withgear 8 is connected. with the hub of gear-'8 and the gears 8 8? can be adjusted by a gear shitting leverS", of anyf suitable construction, so that either gear 8 0r 8* may be meshed with its related gear 8 OrS or both maybe disengaged. Obviously any desired or preferred form of variable or selective gearing can be employed between the shafts 1 and 1 to vary. thefreIative speeds thereof andthe direction oitfrotation' ot the shaftsl), 9?.

v Wlhat Iclaim is For example, as indicated in v 1. A transmissiongearingof thecharac ter specified comprising a pair or driving gears; ar pair of alined shaftsor aXle members;"a pair of opposed gears connected with r p p v 7 n at-least one of 1116133118 of. gears having aide-fin" tary 'gear conii'ectcdwith the driven member, and engaging said opposed gears with :a primary driving shaftgdirectly positively geared to one ofthe'driving gears;

driving shaft directly and positively geared to theo'ther driving gear:

and change gcaring -between s'ait driving shafts whereby the relative speeds of rotation ofsaid shafts may'be'varied. V 1

2; A transmission gearing of the character specified comprising two worm gears; a pair of alined shaft's or axle members; a pair of opposed gears connected with the saidworm gears; a, driven member connected with said shafts; and planetary gears connectedlwith the driven member and engaging said opposed gears; with a primary driving shaft directly and positively geared to one worm gear; and a secondary driving shaft directly and positively geared to the'other worm gear; and change gearing between saic driving siiafts whereby the relative speeds of rotation of said worm gears may be varied. 3. A transmission gearing of the char-ad ter s ecified comprising a pair of driving gears; a driven member; a pair of opposed gears connected with the said driving gears; the gears in at least one of the pairs of gears having 'a definite fixed ratio: other than 1:1; and 'a planetary gear connected with the driven member and meshing with the opposed gears; a pair of opposed aXially alined shaft sections; and a compensating gear between sait shaft sections connected with the driven member; with a primary driving shaft directly and positively geared to one of the driving gears; and a secondary driving shaft directly and positively geared to the other driving gear; and change gearing between said driving shafts; whereby the relative speeds of rotation of said driving shafts may be varied.

4-. A transmission gearing of the character specified comprising a pair of driving gears; a criven member; a pair of opposed gears connected with the said driving gears the gears in at least one of the pairs of gears having a definite fixed gear ratio other than 1:1; and a planetary gear connected with the driven member and meshing with the opposed gears; with a primary driving shaft directly and positively geared to one of the driving gears; a secondary driving shaft directly and positively geared to the other driving gear; and changeable speed gearing between the said primary and sec ondary driving shafts; whereby the relative speeds of rotation of said shafts and of the ,drivin ears operated therebymaybe varied.

5. A transmission gearingof the character speoifiedcomprising two driven gears; a pair of alined shafts or axle members; opposed gears connected with the said driven gears; a driven member connected with said shafts; and a planetary gear connected with thedriven member and engaging said opposed gears; with, a primary driving shaft directly and positively geared toone of the speeds of rotation of'said shafts and of the driving gears operated thereby may be varied; I c

6; A transmission gearing of'the character 'speclfied comprising a pair of worm gears;

apair of alinedzshafts or axle'members;.a

pair of opposed gears connected with the said worm gears the gears in at least one of the pairs of gears having adefinite fixed gear ratio other than 1 :1; a drivenmember connected with said shafts; and planetary gearsconnectedwith the driven memberand engaging said opposed gears; with aprimary driving shaft, a worm thereon directly and positively engagingone of the worm gears; a secondary driving shaft a worm thereon'and positively engaging directly the other worm gear; and changeable speed gearing between the said primary and secondary driving shafts; whereby the relative speeds of rotation of said shafts and of the driving gears 'operatedthereby may be varied.

f V7. Atransmission gearing of the character spec fied comprls'lng two tlI'lVlIlg gears; a

drivenmember; opposed bevel gears connected with the said driving. gears; the gears in g at least one of the pairs of gears having a definite gear ratio other than 1:1; and a planetary gear connected with the driven member and meshing with the opposed bevel gears; a pair of opposed axially alined shaft sections; and a compensating gearbe tween said shaft sections connected with the driven member; with a primary driving shaft directly and positively geared to one of the driving gears; a secondary driving shaft directly and positively geared to thegother driving gear; and changeablespeed gearing between the said primary and secondary driving shafts whereby the relative speeds of rotation of said shafts and of the driving gears operated thereby may be varied.

8. A transmission gearing of the character specified comprising a pair of worm gears;

a driven member; a pair. of opposed gears connected with the said worm gears; the

gears in at least one of the pairs of gears having a definite gear ratio other than 1 :1; a planetary gear connected with the driven Hmember and meshing with said opposed shafts whereby the relative speeds of rotation of said shafts and ofthe Worm gears operated thereby may be varied,

9.. A transmission gearing of the'character specif ed comprising apair of driving'gears;

a pair of alined shafts ;.a pairrof opposed gears on. adjacent ends of said shafts con-- nected with the said driving gears; the gears in at least one of the pairs ofgears having a definite fixed gear ratio other than 1 1; a compensating gearing connected with the 'fshai t intermediate the driving gears a driven member mounted on the hubs of the compensating gear on the shaft; planetary gears: on. said: driven member engagingsaid opposed gears, the planetary gears and the planetary pinions of the compensating gearing beingmounted upon the same radially disposed stub shafts; with meansror driving the drivinggears substantially as described. '10; In gear ng'of thecharacter specified,

alined shaft sections, small bevel gears on the inner vends of said sections, planetary pinionsbetween said small bevel gears; driving gears on said shafts; opposed gears connected with theisaid driving gears, planetary gears connected and engaging said opposed gears; a driven member mounted upon; the

hubs of the srnallxb evel gears and radially disposed stubv shafts mounted in saiddriven member upon which stub shafts both the Pl n ry g ars an erlan e y pin o aremounted With a primary driving 7 shaft directly gearedto onedriving gear; anda secondary driving shaft. directly gearedto the other driving gear; and means whereby a the relative speeds of rotation of S /lClVd-IEVT ing gears may b ied n s ing o he ara t illQQ$ tee lI dshaftsections; opposed Small bevel gearsrespectivelyfastenedto the adj 'acent ends of said sections; driving gears loosely mounted on the ad acent-ends Qf-Smd' sections opposed large bevel gears connected with said driving gears planetary gears meshing with said larger bevel gears; planet a ry pinions meshing with the smaller bevel described,

gears; a driven inemher'mounted upon the w iereby the relative speeds of rotation of said driving gears may be varied.

' Intestimony thatI claim the foregoing as 7 mvown I afiix in si 'nature.

a 7 a b i DAV D "R ss; 

